04/21/2005 01:34 PM Senate L&C

        HB  35-EXTEND BD ARCHITECTS/ENGINEERS/SURVEYORS                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR CON BUNDE announced HB 35 to be up for consideration.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:49:57 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BUNDE moved  to  adopt  SCS HB  35(L&C),  version I,  that                                                               
inserts  landscape architects,  which was  omitted previously.  A                                                               
conforming title amendment  would be needed. He  then objected to                                                               
discuss the change with the bill's sponsor.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  VIC  KOHRING,  sponsor,   explained  that  HB  35                                                               
extends  the  sunset  date  of   the  Board  of  Registration  of                                                               
Architects, Engineers,  Land Surveyors by four  years until 2009.                                                               
He  said that  SCS is  acceptable to  him. The  Legislative Audit                                                               
Division concluded  that the board  is successfully  carrying out                                                               
its  mission and  is operating  in the  best public  interest and                                                               
recommended that it be allowed to continue.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:51:42 PM                                                                                                                    
PAT  DAVIDSON,  Legislative  Auditor,  said  she  recommended  an                                                               
extension of the board to 2009.  She also had a recommendation to                                                               
the board  regarding the continuing evolution  of the engineering                                                               
profession.  Alaska  currently  recognizes  core  disciplines  of                                                               
civil,   chemical,   electrical,   mechanical  and   mining   and                                                               
petroleum. Other  states have  recognized sub-disciplines  in the                                                               
engineering   profession   and   she   suggested   conducting   a                                                               
comprehensive  study,  in  conjunction  with  the  University  of                                                               
Alaska or  the State Society,  regarding public benefits  and the                                                               
related costs associated  with recognizing additional engineering                                                               
specialties   in  Alaska's   licensing   structure.  The   report                                                               
recommended that  the legislature  consider making  the landscape                                                               
architect a full voting member of the board.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BUNDE said that is what the SCS does.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:53:38 PM                                                                                                                    
SAM KITO  III, Alaska Professional  Design Council,  supported HB
. He  didn't think the  landscape architect needs a  full seat.                                                               
He explained  that the SCS  temporarily extends a  temporary non-                                                               
voting member for an additional  four years. The purpose for that                                                               
in his  organization's mind  is to  allow time  to work  with the                                                               
board to  identify the boundaries  for the practice  of landscape                                                               
architecture.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:55:42 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BUNDE  corrected himself  saying  that  the SCS  says  the                                                               
landscape architect is a non-voting member.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:56:02 PM                                                                                                                    
KENNETH MAYNARD, Chair, Architects,  Engineers and Land Surveyors                                                               
Board (AELS),  supported SCS HB  35(L&C). The board  would accept                                                               
the temporary non-voting landscape architect position.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:57:12 PM                                                                                                                    
SHAWN FLORIO, Alaska Public Design  Council (APDC), supported SCS                                                               
HB 35.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:57:38 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR SEEKINS moved to pass  SCS HB 35(L&C) from committee with                                                               
individual recommendations. Senators  Davis, Seekins, Ben Stevens                                                               
and  Chair  Bunde  voted  yea;  and SCS  HB  35(L&C)  moved  from                                                               
committee.